Russians cool on fur

Asking Russian women to stop wearing fur isn't as unthinkable as your article suggests (Getting hot under the collar over Russia's fur coats, G2, February 5). Even climbers on Everest wear synthetic materials nowadays. No fur will warm the cold heart of someone who can wear the remains of animals who have been strangled, electrocuted and skinned alive. Russia is a modern country - I wouldn't be surprised to see Russian women turning away from cruel, antiquated clothing in favour of stylish faux furs and warm synthetic materials.
Elena SurovikinaMoscow, Russia

Perhaps the Loose Change brigade (Comment, February 6) might devote more time to investigating the "real" conspiracy? It seems likely, does it not, that 9/11 and 7/7 conspiracy theories are part of a CIA/MI6 conspiracy to discredit their critics, and to make other reasonable propositions about government machinations appear equally preposterous? And, after all, at least one former member of MI5 is a key proponent of the hologram planes and the phantom trains.Peter McKennaManchester Metropolitan University

If Tessa Jowell sincerely wishes to have the strictest gambling laws in the world (Report, January 31), she should include a requirement that casino punters declare at the start of their visit how much they are prepared to lose. This would respect their gambling freedoms while reducing the risk of failures of rationality leading to the chasing of losses.Dr Graham BoxHurley, Berkshire

In response to Gillian Williamson (Letters, February 6), by emailing this from my Mac, I am clearly able to communicate easily with the 2% of the population who read the Guardian. Isn't that enough?Martyn CornellTeddington, Middlesex

Not having seen a thrush in the garden in years, I've just spotted a pair mating next to the ceanothus that's been in full bloom since last May (Letters, passim). Dennis RustonNewbold Coleorton, Leicestershire

Am I the first to think I should have mown my lawn last Sunday?Martin CooperBromley, Kent